Random Thoughts from Syracuse, NY

Good morning! We are sitting in our hotel room in Syracuse after an amazing day touring many exciting sites in Boston. This may not be a typical Random Thoughts post as I am almost too excited about the great day that it has been. We'll do our best. Here goes:

1) Jon, thanks for the video. Anyone who is curious check out the comments on the previous post and follow the link. It's an office Nerf War. I loved it but I had a heart attack when the actors broke out the Vulcan EBF-25 Blaster. Further research indicates it comes out next month. I am excited.

2) BOSTON IS BEAUTIFUL!

3) We got to see many sites while we were in Boston, and the excitement and honor it was to tour those sites will not be expressed well in this post. I'll do my best. Pictures will be up on Facebook when I get home. Today's tour visits include the following:

- A full tour of the USS Constitution, the country's oldest warship still in commission. She is still crewed by the Navy which we were told also get the honor of actually sailing it in the Harbor 8 or 9 times a year when restoration work isn't being done. INCREDIBLE honor and easily the highlight of the trip. She was a breath taking beauty. Our Airman tour guide mentioned that she was 33-0 in her naval engagements, making her crew the only undefeated team in Boston. During her first major battle a crewman stuck his head out a gun port to observe the shots from the British opponent and remarked "Huzzah! Her sides are like Iron!" which gave her the nickname Old Ironsides. The airman commented the crew man had to be an American because who else would be crazy enough to stick their head out a gun port during a naval battle?

- An open deck visit of the USS Cassin Young (DD-793), a decommissioned Fletcher class destroyer that saw extensive action in the Pacific. From the Battle of Leyte Gulf to the invasion of Okinawa, she was an active ship. She underwent several overhauls for the Korean conflict but was restored to her original look when she was decommissioned. Commander Young received a medal of honor for his actions at Pearl Harbor, and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at the battle of Guadalcanal where he was killed. As a result this Fletcher class destroyer (1 of 125) was named after him.

- A tour of the Bunker Hill Monument at Breed's Hill. That's right. Ordered to take and fortify Bunker Hill, the Continental army chose instead to dig in at Breed's Hill. The brave volunteers of our army repulsed two British assaults before falling back during the third. A British Officer whose full name I can't recall was quoted saying "A hill that cost too much to take."

- Yes, I did climb all 294 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument. The view was breath-taking. So was the climb.

- We also had the pleasure of eating at the amazing Warren Tavern, recommended to us by one of the local park rangers. A historical monument in addition to a restaurant, we were amazed to learn that the tavern was a favorite of Paul Revere, and was named after Dr. Warren who died at the Bunker Hill Battle. Restaurant of the year in Boston several years running.

- We also drove by the Old North Church (couldn't park by it) and we also drove by Fenway Park on our way out of Boston.

I would normally do a verse of encouragement and a fun Olympic highlight (Did you know the women's US fencing team swept all 3 medals? The bronze medal winner has to leave the) but it is late and if I don't head for bed now I will not fall asleep amidst the very heavy snoring that is about to start in this room. It was a great day, we finish the ride home tomorrow.